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Vascular basement membrane thickening in diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy is a major microvascular complication of both type 1 and type 2
diabetes. It is the leading cause of blindness in the working age population for which
unfortunately there is no cure. One of the fundamental changes closely associated with the
development of diabetic retinopathy is the thickening of the basement membrane (BM)
in the small blood vessels of the diabetic retina. Several years of research has established
hyperglycemia, the most prevalent characteristic of diabetes, as a primary causal factor
mediating this alteration. Studies have established the negative influence of hyperglycemia
on the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy; however, the specific cellular mechanisms that
lead to the dysfunction of small vessels in diabetes are unclear. In particular, it is unknown if vascular BM thickening promot
es
serious structural and functional abnormalities. While the association between BM thickening and the development and
progression of diabetic retinopathy has been observed long ago, only recently new evidences have come to light that indicate
vascular BM thickening plays a causal role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. Our research has identified several BM
genes, fibronectin, collagen IV, laminin, and cellular events involving connexin-43 gap junction intercellular communication
that are important players in mediating hyperglycemia-driven vascular lesions. These changes underlie some of the critical
pathogenetic roles played by the thickened BM in promoting characteristic vascular lesions associated with diabetic retinopath

Biography

Sayon Roy received his PhD from Boston University and completed his postdoctoral training at Schepens EyeResearch Institute, Ha
rvard Medical
School, Harvard University. Dr. Roy is currently a professor of Medicine,Section of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Nutrition and a
professor of
Ophthalmology at Boston University School of Medicine. Recognized as an expert in retinal vascular biology, Dr. Roy?s seminal w
ork has identi
fi
ed
severalgenes in the retina that are abnormally expressed in diabetic retinopathy. His pioneering work has led to novel gene mod
ulatory techniques
in retinal vascular cells using antisense oligonucleotides via intravitreal injection. Dr.Roy has received numerous awards incl
uding the American
Diabetes Association Research Award for thecommitment and dedication towards the
fi
ght against diabetes, the 2006 Mentor of the Year Award
from Boston University, and the 2008 Innovative Award from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Research in Dr.Roy?s labo
ratory has been
funded by several organizations including the National Eye Institute, NIH, NationalMedical Technology Testbed, American Diabete
s Association,
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, Fight for Sight, Research to Prevent Blindness, and the Lions Organization
. Dr. Roy currently
servesas a chartered member of the NEI Study Section of the National Institutes of Health.
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